Couriers for fragile items

There is an art /skill to delivering fragile items and as a supplier of fragile mirrors, glass and bathroom ceramics you need to establish what type of service you require. Using cheap can be a false economy here.

Small items less than 25kgs in weight, well packaged can go through a parcel carrier. The key here is well packaged. Polystyrene rigid supports as well as bubble wrapping in a strong cardboard box is well packaged. We have seen fragile items wrapped in bubble wrap and then parcel paper and marked fragile – that is not enough. Fragile items need more support especially when using a parcel carrier as they use cages, conveyor belts and will trans-ship the goods several times before it reaches your customer. Your parcel is going to be squashed, thrown, pushed and pulled and it needs to withstand it all, if not then the item breaks or cracks and you will be sending out another to your customer.

Bear in mind, almost all parcel carriers offer very little or no insurance for glass, mirrors and ceramics, you will need to check the small print. So a parcel carrier could cost you twice the amount of postage and the cost of the item, twice. That’s why packaging is so important. Saving on packaging can cost you dearly, so get it right first time.

For larger fragile items a pallet network may be an option, again your item needs to be packaged really well.

If your item cannot go buy parcel (too fragile, too valuable) or by pallet network then an express or same day courier is another option. Your item goes on a dedicated vehicle. This means your fragile item is the only item that is being delivered, the driver who collects it, will be the driver that delivers it (no trans-shipping, no conveyor belts, no throwing the item about – none of this happens when you use a same day courier). The overall cost is more expensive. Your items are delivered safely and without worry, no extra costs and no extra deliveries leaving you with happy customers and unbroken, fragile items.

Regards

Kevin Arrow